BILL COULD REVIVE VALLEY BUSWAY LEVINE WILL SPONSOR LEGISLATION.Byline: David M. Drucker Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Lloyd Levine proposed a bill Friday that would allow the MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. to continue building the Orange Line busway without having to complete a court-ordered study of an alternative system of Rapid buses. But Levine acknowledged that Assembly Bill 1798 faces an uphill climb if it is to pass by Aug. 31, the last day of this year's legislative session. The bill will likely be heard Tuesday or Wednesday in the state Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. ``That's where I expect to have some difficulty, and it'll come down to me convincing them that this lawsuit is without merit,'' said Levine, D-Van Nuys. ``This is the most important transportation project in the Valley since the freeways were built.'' Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, indicated he is wary of supporting legislation that would supersede To obliterate, replace, make void, or useless. Supersede means to take the place of, as by reason of superior worth or right. A recently enacted statute that repeals an older law is said to supersede the prior legislation. a court ruling that halted construction. He blamed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for failing to study the Rapid Bus system alternative during the nine-year review process for the busway. Alarcon, also a candidate for Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. mayor, said he is not convinced the Chandler Boulevard route is the best location for an east-west busway. ``That happens to be where the right of way is, but the fact is the system has to carry riders and I'm not convinced this is the best way to move riders.'' A state appellate panel ordered a temporary halt to construction Aug. 2, after a group of Valley residents - Citizens Organized for Smart Transit - filed suit, saying the MTA should have studied whether a system of buses running with normal traffic would be a better alternative. Levine's bill would negate ne·gate tr.v. ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing, ne·gates 1. To make ineffective or invalid; nullify. 2. To rule out; deny. See Synonyms at deny. 3. any decision calling for construction of the 14-mile project to remain suspended while the environmental study is conducted. The Orange Line, running from North Hollywood to Woodland Hills, is 40 percent complete. MTA officials estimate it is costing about $70,000 a day to keep crews on standby during the shutdown. Levine said he is sensitive to environmental regulations and would have supported more study if the opponents were concerned with protecting an endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. or guarding against developing on toxic land. But with the Valley in dire need of mass transit mass transit, public transportation systems designed to move large numbers of passengers. Types and Advantages Mass transit refers to municipal or regional public shared transportation, such as buses, streetcars, and ferries, open to all on a to help alleviate traffic and address future population growth, he supports an immediate resumption of construction. ``There are those out there that feel the environmental process wasn't completed. But it's my belief that it was,'' Levine said. ``I believe (this project) is good for my district.'' The fate of Levine's bill is unclear, since it has only a week and half to garner approval. But he might have the support of Assemblyman Keith Richman Dr. Keith S. Richman is a California, United States, Republican politician. From 2001 to 2007, he served in the California State Assembly representing the 38th Assembly District based in Northwest Los Angeles County. , R-Granada Hills. Richman would not comment on the bill before reviewing it, but he made clear Friday his support for completing the busway project. ``I think the busway will be a major improvement to transit in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and it's important that it proceed.'' David M. Drucker, (916) 442-5096 david.drucker(at)dailybulletin.com CAPTION(S): map Map: Subway Metro Red Line station Daily News |
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